Unknown Metal Lab Report

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Introduction/Objective:
In this report, two unknown metals are given and using the materials required for this experiment, the unknown metals must be identified. The two metals are labeled as unknown metal A and B. The procedure informed the audience that one metal is Tin and the other is Aluminium. Knowing the physical properties of a metal, it came to a hypothesis that unknown metal A was Tin and unknown metal B was Aluminium. The reason to the hypothesis is unknown metal B had a shiny luster to it and had the same color as aluminum foil used for food. Therefore, unknown metal B is aluminum making unknown metal A tin.
In order to distinguish the two unknown metals, the calculation of the density must be found for each metal. To find the …show more content…

The reason why this specific amount was chosen is because it was an easy amount to measure and does not take a lot of space when it is poured into the graduated cylinder. Using five grams was too low of an amount to measure and twenty grams seemed too much. Also, using ten grams for each metal made the procedure quick and simple to complete. The volume was picked out to 50 mL because this amount of volume was much easier to measure than a really low volume like 10 mL. Since the graduated cylinder is numbered by a factor of 10 mL, it was easier to read a 50 mL as opposed to a 73 mL. The calculated density for the unknown metal A seemed to be aluminium since it was approximately close to the constant density of aluminium. The density that was calculated during this experiment for unknown metal A was 2.248 g/mL and the constant density for aluminium is 2.7 g/mL. However, the calculated density for unknown metal B was a little off for it to be a density of tin. The result of the average density for unknown metal B is 5.11 g/mL and the constant density for tin is 7.31 …show more content…

It was probably either not functioning right or had not been adjusted correctly. If another balance scale was used for the procedure maybe the data could have been more accurate. To continue, another mistake that could have lead to poor data was when pouring the unknown metals into the graduated cylinder to measure the volume, some metals had fell to the ground and only the seen metals was picked up. Some of the metals could have been left on floor after measuring. This loss of metal may have resulted in losing a few grams of the unknown metal. This could have been avoided if the procedures were taken more carefully and slowly whereas no mistakes could've happened. Just like in any experiment, there are errors just like there was in this experiment. The lesson is to learn and improve from the errors on the previous experiments. To improve from the errors, is to use a modern balance scale to recieve a more accurate results. Most objects disfunction as time goes by. Also, the measurements could have been more precise. A more precise measurement could lead to a more accurate calculation. When having a time frame for a procedure, knowing how to manage your time and not rushing through the steps could help the experiment be a success. In every experiment there will be errors that will carry on and remember to not repeat the mistakes

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